trousers

Yep - Adkins priority was to score more goals than the opponent whereas Pochettino's is to concede less than the opponent. Yes, a different means to the same end but a significantly different philosophy IMO (which may of course be shot to pieces by the stats!)

Agree with that Faz. The club often reiterate that we are part way through 'a project' and that we will always play the same way...regardless of who we are playing,where we are playing or what the score is at any moment in time. In other words, we don't have a "plan B" because we don't WANT a Plan B. It's a bit like the Tories' approach to dealing with the financial crisis.... They've got a Plan A and they're gonna see it through.... ( sorry, possibly not the best analogy...) Some might view that as blinkered dogmatism.... Others might see it as a conviction of principles. It doesn't surprise me that our results reflect an "all or nothing" approach to our club's philosophy. When it works it works rather well, when it doesn't we come unstuck. Barcelona, whilst on a different planet success wise, have the same philosophy - they play their way regardless of the opposition and the circumstances of a given game. We're following the same philosophy. Yes, we're a million miles away from where Barcelona are but the theory is that if we persevere with this "Dogmatic" approach for a few years we'll start to see the fruits of out labour in time. All of which requires patience....which, given the fickle nature of football fans, is where the philosophy struggles most to succeed...

Interesting stats posted in a rational and constructive manner - cheers for the research (That wasn't meant to sound patronising if it did - just highlighting that there are ways of putting over negative stuff in a different way to some on here!)

A good troll stays just below the detection radar...and then plays the "prove I'm a troll" card... (Just before they play the "they're all out to get me" persecution card...)

It was me that brought about the collapse of the Berlin Wall...

Scenario 1: I go down the pub one day Someone asks me what I'm drinking. London Pride I reply. Oh, I don't like ale, I much prefer lager says the bloke. A civil discussion about different types of beer ensues. The next day I go to the pub again and meet the same bloke and we have a chat about something else that we have different opinions about. Scenario 2: I go down the pub one day. Someone comes up to me as says: "Jesus Christ! What the **** are you drinking there? London Pride? What a load of sh*te that is. You should drink lager like me yer cardigan wearing dullard!". Yeah, but I like it, I reply. It's rubbish! You should drink lager like me, said the chap getting louder and louder. The next day I walk into the same pub and the same bloke comes up to me and says the same thing. This happens for several days. Both scenarios are a bloke offering an opinion. Highlighting that someone is "just giving their opinion on here" is missing the point somewhat. But you already know that of course.

P.s why does my iPhone always capture league table screen shots in large hi-res but the fixtures and results in smaller low res? Love modern technology

Injury time goal by Remy puts Newcastle back above us.

Not exactly, no. The 'like for like' real life comparison would be an 'annoying bloke standing next to you in pub' scenario. Ear plugs (ignore)? Go to a different pub (forum)? Ask the landlord to intervene (moderation)? or punch the bloke in the face (satisfying infraction)?

That's far too intellectual analysis for your average West Ham fan to comprehend I'm afraid

So if this annoying geezer keeps shouting stuff you disagree with through your letter box your solution is to put in some ear plugs?

Canada about to secure gold in the ice hockey. #winningmentality

What if he kept coming to your house and shouting the same thing time and time again through your letter box? #comparinglikewithlike

Lol @ Scotland

In all seriousness, West Ham did look like a team that had just come back from a wee break though (apart from the first 10 minutes where it looked like they were still on the plane home)

West Ham had a warm weather training break in Dubai last week then (Match of the Day commentator). One of the advantages of being knocked out of the FA Cup in the earlier rounds I guess...

IF there were trolls on this forum, I wonder which existing posters they would most closely resemble?

Indeed. You'd have thought their own forums would be keeping them quite busy right now...

Boruc Clyne - Fonte - Lovren - Shaw Wanyama - Schneiderlin Ramirez - Lallana - JRod Gallagher Subs: Kelvin, Chambers, Yoshida, Cork, JWP, Davis, Lambert

This. Sadly.

Do we have any volunteers on here to check the main board every now and then, and report back when it's safe to go back on there?

#meltdown #crisisclub

Nah. Can't be. The mods would have spotted it by now if he was.

Another fun week on the Saints Web Forum beckons. Thank heavens for the Pompey thread #meltdown #crisisclub